Awakening to the Union of Emptiness and Compassion
Residential Retreat with Lisa Ernst
Wednesday 6PM on September 21, 2022 - Sunday 12 Noon on September 25, 2022
YMCA Camp Ocoee, Ocoee, TN
“When I look inside and see that I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I look outside and see that I am everything, that is love. And between those two, my life flows.” -- Nisargadatta
To develop a wise and balanced practice, the Buddha taught that we need to cultivate both emptiness and compassion. Tipping too far into emptiness, our hearts can close to the suffering of the world; tipping too far into compassion we may become overwhelmed by suffering because we can’t see emptiness at the core. When they are strong and balanced, emptiness and compassion generate the conditions that lead to genuine compassion, liberation and wise action.
Coming together in community and supporting each other’s practice, we will have an opportunity to nurture and awaken this union of emptiness and compassion. Led by Lisa Ernst, this retreat will include periods of sitting and walking meditation, instructions, dharma talks and Q&A. This retreat is suitable for all levels of experience.
Lisa Ernst is a meditation teacher, artist and founder of One Dharma Nashville. In her teaching, Lisa emphasizes both transformational insight and everyday awakening as an invitation to embrace all of the path’s possibilities. Lisa has been meditating for over 30 years in the Zen and Vipassana traditions. She received teaching authorization in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah, Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman. She offers meditation mentoring and teaches daylong and residential retreats nationally at centers such as Spirit Rock, InsightLA and Southern Dharma. As a practicing visual artist Lisa incorporates Dharma into contemplative photography and writing. She lives in Nashville Tennessee with her husband.
Location: YMCA Camp Ocoee, Wasson Lodge and cabins at 265 Johnson Lane, Ocoee, TN 37361 (about 2 hours north of Atlanta). For more information, visit the Camp Ocoee Wasson Lodge Website.
Accommodation: At the Wasson Lodge and in four nearby cabins. 1-3 people per room depending on the number of registrants. Room and cabin assignments will be provided once you arrive. The main lodge is fully handicap-accessible. Bedding and bath towels are provided.
Meals: Three meals a day, plus snacks. These will be vegan and gluten free, with dairy, egg, and grain options available for all or most meals.
COVID Vaccinations and COVID Tests: To keep all retreat attendees as safe as possible, participants need to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID by September 1st, 2022, three weeks before the retreat's start date. A copy of your vaccination card is needed to complete the online registration process. In addition, retreat registrants must send a copy of a negative COVID test within 24 hours of the start of the retreat. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
You can request up to four free tests from the U.S. government using this link: https://www.covidtests.gov. The tests are supposed to ship 7-14 days from the date you request them.
Payment and Refund and Cancellation Policies
Payment: Payment in full is preferred at time of registration. However, it is permissible to pay half at time of registration and the rest one week prior to the start of the retreat. Should RCS need to cancel a retreat (unlikely), all payments would be refunded in full.
Refund policy for cancellations:
Financial Assistance One of Red Clay's goals is for every one to be able to attend regardless of ability to pay. To achieve this goal, a scholarship fund has been accumulated from donations from previous retreats and is available to help pay for those who need financial assistance. If you are interested in receiving financial assistance for this retreat, contact the retreat administrator.
Dana is the practice of generosity and helps remind us of the fundamental connected nature of life. By supporting our teachers we deepen our own experience on the path of practice while helping them to support others.
In the spirit of this tradition, all participants will have an opportunity to make a voluntary contribution, called dana, at the end of the retreat. Participants often ask what is considered appropriate; we suggest that you give within your means and from your heart. All dana is appreciated.